This post was most recently updated on July 9th, 2019
As the number of days left in 2017 dwindles down, now is a great time to set yourself up with a few family resolutions to accomplish in the new year! One objective many people try to keep in mind is to spend as much time with family as possible. As the kids get older, it can be hard to come up with new ways to spend time together, but here are a few ideas every family can enjoy!
1. Send out hand-written letters
Everything we do now is digital, but the lost art of handwritten letters adds a personal touch that an email can never compare to. Bring your family together one night and spend a couple hours handwriting letters to family and friends! Get creative and find your inspiration to decorate those cards with unique stencils, borders, and envelopes. Or use photo cards made with your own family photos. Whether it’s an appreciation letter or a thank you letter (perfect timing for the recent holiday) – it’s a surprise anyone would love to receive! No matter how far the distance, you’ll maintain a strong relationship with everyone involved and it’s a great lesson to teach your kids about being appreciative! Consider adding this to your list of family resolutions…
2. Cook together
A great way to spend time with family is to cook your meals together! Pick out a recipe, assign a task to everyone and work together. It can be hard to find a pause in our busy lives, but cooking in the kitchen is a great way to reconnect and catch up. Cooking your own meals can also be a way to stay healthy as a family, not to mention save some cash. If you’re looking for a few quick and easy ideas, here are some delicious family recipes to try with your loved ones!
3. Reflect on the year
A nice way to kick off the new year is by reflecting on 2017 and the things you were grateful for and what you accomplished! Sitting down with your family to talk about your favorite memories and the hardships you overcame is a nice way to remember the year. Some questions to ask are: What goals did I set in the past year? Which goals did I not reach/why? What could I have done differently? What did I do right? How did we do on last year’s family resolutions? This is also a great time to plan out your goals for the new year. To help you out, here’s a great worksheet to personalize all your goals for 2018!
4. Have a day of giving
What better way to bond as a family than by volunteering? Sit down and do some research on different communities that could use your help! Assisting others will help you and your kids to strengthen relationships and increase open communication. This list has a bunch of great charities always looking for some extra hands! Make a day out of it and do something nice for the people around you. Whether it’s shoveling your neighbor’s driveway or serving lunch at a local soup kitchen – an act of kindness goes a long way!
5. Family movie night
Having a family movie night is an easy way to unwind after a long day. Grab your favorite snacks, a cozy blanket, and cuddle up on the couch! If you’re looking for family-friendly Christian movies, check out Pure Flix! You won’t have to worry about inappropriate scenes and it’s easy to find something everyone will enjoy! And if you’re looking for something more educational to watch, they offer homeschooling resources too.
As we say goodbye to 2017, it’s important to reflect on the past year and acknowledge all the
events that occurred in order to move forward into a better year. Coming together to create new family resolutions is a great way to strengthen your family, too. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, working at a corporate job, or a stay-at-home mom, it’s nice to spend time with your family and make 2018 a great one for everybody!
How wonderful! I definitely plan to spend time cooking together with my family and making memories that’ll last a lifetime.
I agree. Family time together is so very precious. My brother and I spent a lot of time together over Christmas. It was the most time we’d spent alone together in a very long time. and it was wonderful! A true way to strengthen family bonds.
Great ideas for families. Does does not apply to me right in my home but I like the volunteering and the handwritten letters.
These are all lovely thoughts…I actually went digital this year because of concern for the planet and its resources.
Great tips! I and my girls are big fans of hand-written notes and cards. We love going to movies together. We all cook together and do volunteer work together. I think we’ve already got this list squared away. 😉
I remember doing a bunch of family movie nights with all the kids one year and it was great! We still quote many of their best movie lines.